Danny & Beth Williams

1992  L Series Enduro Wagon

Our car is a white L92 Enduro Wagon that spent most of its former life travelling country roads with the agricultural planning company that we bought it from in February 1996. The company rep who drove it was going overseas and the company decided to sell it off - luckily for us, at a reasonable price. Log book maintained, it was in great shape.

The Early Days

Our first outing with the club was the Subaru Shop Saturday workshop day in May when we each had the opportunity to get our cars in the air and check them out. Beth and I were just a little embarrassed when David Martin and Co started taking the Mickey out of us for having a car that was in a totally pristine condition underneath with nary a scratch, let alone a dent. A couple of outings later and it is beginning to look like a veteran with dents asunder and the odd bash in the sill panels - not to mention the petrol tank. Main culprit there was Sundown National park which is rather a titch unforgiving on unlifted vehicles. But we did grade the tracks and improve them for the vehicles following behind.

The Elusive Lift Kit

It took some time for us to get a lift kit into the vehicle which we did only a few weeks ago; but we’re now on the road to getting a little more serious. More immediate plans are to move up to 14 inch wheels, extra lift springs and shockers - the front end is quite mushy and we’re a little tired of porpoising through the bush. A set of 3.9 ratio gearing is also on the dream sheet, as are disc brakes for the rear. Having converted a 4 cylinder automatic Capri to a V6 manual (the real Capri not the latest plastic popout model), putting a Turbo in the Sooby doesn’t scare me, so we’ll have a go at that as well some time down track. 

   The Lift Kit Goes In                                               The Subaru's Garage Partner - 1970 V6 Capri

Our time with the club this year has stressed a few bits on the young girl - we’ve managed to wreck a couple of tyres (really weak sidewall jobs), tear and replace a rear CV boot, replace two sets of screaming front wheel bearings, and the latest drama is an inconsiderate oil leak which just happens to be dripping onto the exhaust pipe. You reckon I won’t be fixing that this Christmas break! Might even blow the dent out of the tank so I can get a full load on board in future.

A young veteran of mud, sand, gravel and boulders in her short 4 wheel driving life, the best is yet to come.

And our number plate ? ........ 051 BTS - Bloody Tough Subaru!

Maiden Voyage - Brass Monkey Weekend - Spicer's Gap Track 10 June 1996

Footnote:

By Jan 97 BTS had been fitted with an approved 2" Lift Kit, 14" Sunraysia Wheels, Rear CV Boot Protectors and an Internal Cargo Barrier. The oil leak, which was caused by sand entering the Bell Housing inspection cover, was fixed by replacement of the rear engine seal. A new clutch friction plate was also installed (precautionary change) .

23 Mar 98

Latest News - BTS has been significantly upgraded since this report was written. To find out what it is like now see the new That's Our Car entry.

To see what else they get up to - visit Danny & Beth's Home Web Site